Costco’s shelf signs carry more information than the price. The last two digits tell you whether an item is at full price, on a supplier deal, or being cleared out — and a small asterisk tells you whether it is coming back at all.

Here is the short version, then what each one means in practice.

Costco price endings at a glance

Price ends in	What shoppers have found it means	What to do
.99	Regular price	No rush — it will likely be there next trip
.49, .79, .89	A supplier-funded deal, usually for a limited time	Good price now; it can go back up
.97	A markdown decided by the warehouse	Buy if you want it; stock is usually limited
.00 or .88	The deepest markdowns, often manager clearance	Last-chance pricing
* in the top-right corner	The item is not being restocked	Buy it now or accept it may be gone

One honest caveat, because it matters: Costco has never published these codes. They are conventions that shoppers and staff have observed for years and that hold up well in practice, not a policy you can hold the company to. Treat them as strong hints, not guarantees.

.99 — the regular price

Most items sit at a price ending in .99. Nothing special is happening. If you want the item, buy it; if you can wait, waiting costs nothing.

.49, .79 and .89 — a deal from the supplier

These endings usually mean the manufacturer is funding a temporary discount, sometimes shown as an instant rebate on the sign. The important part is “temporary”: when the promotion ends, the price normally goes back up.

That makes these endings worth noting if you buy the item regularly. It also makes them the most common trigger for a price adjustment in the other direction — if you paid full price last week and the item drops to a supplier deal this week, the difference is claimable inside 30 days.

.97 — the warehouse marked it down

A .97 ending means someone at the warehouse reduced the price, usually to move stock: an overstocked pallet, a seasonal item past its season, packaging that got tired. The size of the cut varies from a few cents to a lot.

Two things follow. Quantities are usually limited, so a .97 item may be gone next visit. And because the cut is local, the same item can be .97 in one warehouse and .99 in another.

.00 and .88 — the deepest cuts

These are the endings shoppers watch for. They generally mean clearance: the warehouse wants the item gone. Stock is usually low, and the item often has an asterisk too.

The asterisk — the item is not coming back

An asterisk in the top-right corner of the sign means the warehouse is not reordering. It does not always mean the price is low. It means once this stock sells, that product is finished at that location.

Shoppers call it the death star for a reason: if it is something you buy often, this is your warning.

How the codes and the 30-day window fit together

Price endings and Costco’s price adjustment policy work together:

You buy something at .99.
Within 30 days it appears at .97, or on a .49 supplier deal.
You claim the difference, because Costco Canada honours price adjustment requests on warehouse purchases within 30 days of purchase — the item must still be in stock and within its promotional dates. (Costco Canada policy)

The catch is noticing in time. That is the whole reason price endings are worth learning: the drop is visible on a shelf sign you probably will not walk past again inside the window.

If you would rather not check, the free RefundWatcher app watches the item numbers from your receipt and messages you when one drops. The step-by-step claim guide covers what to bring and which counter to visit.

Reading a sign quickly

Look at the last two digits first — that is the discount signal.
Then the top-right corner for the asterisk — that is the availability signal.
Together: .97 with an asterisk is the strongest “buy now” sign in the warehouse.
.99 with an asterisk means it is leaving at full price, so there is no discount to wait for.

FAQ

Does .97 always mean clearance? It means the warehouse cut the price. Sometimes the cut is small. Compare with what you normally pay rather than assuming every .97 is a bargain.

Are the codes the same in Canada and the US? Shoppers report the same conventions in both, but since Costco does not publish them, there is no official confirmation either way.

Do the codes work on Costco.ca? Online prices do not use the same shelf-sign conventions, and Costco.ca price adjustments are handled separately from warehouse ones — neither matches the other’s price.

What does an asterisk plus a normal price mean? The item is not being restocked, but it has not been marked down. If you rely on it, buy it while it is there.

Can I get a price adjustment if the item goes to .97 after I buy it? Yes, if it is within 30 days of purchase and the item is still in stock and within its promotional dates.

Last reviewed: September 2026. Price endings are shopper conventions, not published Costco policy, and can vary by warehouse.

Costco Price Tag Codes: What .97 and * Mean